Archive for September, 2013

CEATEC 2013 has presented quite a bit of interesting technology, including Pioneer's Smart Car Cockpit Concept that we detailed earlier. Perhaps the most interesting thus far, however, has been the Moon, a circular transportation-esque device that is spherical in shape, all of which is rounded out by a pair of white wings on the "back" that function as turn signals.

NTT Docomo had been busy here at CEATEC 2013, during which it presented the concept for its next-generation 5G mobile network, something that would be a higher-performance offering over current LTE-Advanced network technology. At the event, Docomo has shown off this concept, including where it is in the process and its ambitions for the future, with the company pegging a 2020 goal.

The modern car is already decked out with a variety of technologies, some intended to make driving safer, others that make it more luxurious. Pioneer's Smart Car Cockpit Concept, which it has demonstrated here at CEATEC 2013, is a combination of both, offering a plethora of features that span the range from safety to convenience, including a HUD on the windshield and biometric sensors in the steering wheel.

We're on the ground floor here at CEATEC 2013, where Sharp -- which also showed off its Mebius Pad Windows 8.1 -- has demonstrated its Health Care Support Chair. With this contraption, which looks at first glance like a high-tech workstation for gaming or computing, clinics can remotely obtain a variety of health information on a patient.

Sharp has showed off its Mebius Pad here at CEATEC 2013, where we got a moment with the device. This tablet/laptop hybrid offers a variety of features common to both tablets and PCs, running Windows 8.1 and featuring a detachable keyboard. We've got a rundown of what the system offers, as well as a few shots of the device, after the jump.

Chevrolet has rolled out a new truck that is sure to make your neighbors give you a second glance, aiming to satisfying the survivalist in you while offering all the trimmings you'd need to survive a zombie apocalypse (or perhaps a government shut down): the 2014 Chevrolet Black Ops Silverado. The Black Ops is a body-armor equipped truck decked out in black and packed full of features you won't find on the average run-of-the-mill vehicle.

Xi3's PISTON Console, something many have referred to as the first Steam Box, went up for pre-order in March. While details on the console have been given in bits and pieces over the months, Xi3 has published a large round of FAQ on its upcoming console, covering questions ranging from hardware to support and back again, also offering additional clarity on Steam Box claims and its relationship with Valve.

Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer gaming environment for billion-dollar title GTA5, could encounter launch day hiccups given a greater-than-predicted crowd eager to take part, developers Rockstar North has warned. The online arena, which will allow up to sixteen players to compete against each other simultaneously, could well be swamped with gamers after sales of Grand Theft Auto 5 surprised the studio with its early sales performance.

A government shut down has been warned as possibly taking place tomorrow in light of budget agreement troubles within Congress. If such a shut down does take place, a myriad of individuals and agencies will feel the effects, not the least of which is NASA. On Friday, the space agency detailed plans it has in place should the day turn over without a spending bill compromise.

Restrictions on using electronic devices during takeoff and landing could be lifted, after a regulatory committee told the FAA to loosen its guidelines on when gadgets like iPads, Kindles, and other hardware can be turned on. The recommendation by the Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which comes after a year-long investigation into the potential safety issues, is believed to include select smaller gadgets, while laptops and other larger hardware would still need to be stowed, albeit for physical reasons of potential crash danger, rather than because of whatever electrical signals they might give out.